METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STILL IMAGE CAPTURE FROM VIDEO FOOTAGE

• US 20100259645A1
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pure Digital Technology Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaplan, Jonathan, Ben-Yaakov, David, Korman, Jonathan Benjamin, Kim, Philip C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.990
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00469 with enlargement of a selected area of the displayed information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A method of providing one or more snapshots extracted from video footage includes displaying a first image in a first display area. The first image is associated with a first capture time. The method also includes displaying a first plurality of preview images in a second display area. The first plurality of preview images are associated with times prior to the first capture time. The method further includes displaying a second plurality of preview images in a third display area. The second plurality of preview images are associated with times subsequent to the first capture time. Moreover, the method includes selecting at least one of the first image, one of the first plurality of preview images, or one of the second plurality of preview images and saving the selected image to a memory.

Claims

1. A method of providing one or more snapshots extracted from video footage, the method comprising:

displaying a first image in a first display area, wherein the first image is associated with a first capture time;

displaying a first plurality of preview images in a second display area, wherein the first plurality of preview images are associated with times prior to the first capture time;

displaying a second plurality of preview images in a third display area, wherein the second plurality of preview images are associated with times subsequent to the first capture time;

selecting at least one of the first image, one of the first plurality of preview images, or one of the second plurality of preview images; and

saving the selected image to a memory.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a size of the image associated with the first capture time is larger than one of the first plurality of preview images or one of the second plurality of preview images.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the first plurality of preview images comprises:

displaying one of the first plurality of preview images, and

thereafter displaying another of the first plurality of preview images, wherein a capture time associated with the another of the first plurality of preview images is prior to a capture time associated with the one of the first plurality of preview images.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the video footage is characterized by a frame rate and the one of the first plurality of preview images is associated with a second capture time equal to the first capture time minus an inverse of the frame rate.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the second plurality of preview images comprises:

displaying one of the second plurality of preview images, and

thereafter displaying another of the second plurality of preview images, wherein a capture time associated with the another of the second plurality of preview images is subsequent to a capture time associated with the one of the first plurality of preview images.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the video footage is characterized by a frame rate and the one of the second plurality of preview images is associated with a third capture time equal to the first capture time plus an inverse of the frame rate.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the selected image in a fourth display area.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising displaying snapshots captured in a previous video editing session in the fourth display area.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the selected image in the first display area.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

updating the second display area after displaying the selected image in the first display area; and

updating the third display area after displaying the selected image in the first display area.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

updating the second display area comprises displaying a third plurality of preview images associated with capture times prior to a capture time associated with the selected image; and

updating the third display area comprises displaying a fourth plurality of preview images associated with capture times subsequent to the capture time associated with the selected image.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

indicating a hover image by positioning a cursor over one of the first plurality of preview images or one of the second plurality of preview images;

modifying a frame associated with the hover image; and

displaying the hover image in the first display area.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

selecting the hover image;

replacing the first image with the hover image without the modified frame;

updating the second display area in response to selecting the hover image;

updating the third display area in response to selecting the hover image; and

not updating the first display area in response to the position of the cursor over the hover image.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

moving the cursor off of the hover image;

indicating a new hover image by positioning the cursor over at least one of the preview images in the second display area or the third display area; and

displaying the new hover image in the first display area.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a snapshot icon in a graphical user interface prior to displaying the first image in the first display area.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a multiple frame advance icon;

displaying a second image in the first display area, wherein the second image is associated with a second capture time a predetermined time later than the first capture time;

displaying a third plurality of preview images in the second display area, wherein the third plurality of preview images are associated with times prior to the second capture time; and

displaying a fourth plurality of preview images in the third display area, wherein the fourth plurality of preview images are associated with times subsequent to the second capture time.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined time is equal to a sum of the quantity the third plurality of images plus the fourth plurality of images divided by a frame rate.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein one of the second plurality of preview images is displayed as one of the third plurality of preview images.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a multiple frame retreat icon;

displaying a second image in the first display area, wherein the second image is associated with a second capture time a predetermined time earlier than the first capture time;

displaying a third plurality of preview images in the second display area, wherein the third plurality of preview images are associated with times prior to the second capture time; and

displaying a fourth plurality of preview images in the third display area, wherein the fourth plurality of preview images are associated with times subsequent to the second capture time.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the predetermined time is equal to a sum of the quantity the third plurality of images plus the fourth plurality of images divided by a frame rate.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein one of the second plurality of preview images is displayed as one of the third plurality of preview images.

22. A computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions for controlling a data processor to provide one or more snapshots extracted from video footage, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions that cause the data processor to display a first image in a first display area, wherein the first image is associated with a first capture time;

instructions that cause the data processor to display a first plurality of preview images in a second display area, wherein the first plurality of preview images are associated with times prior to the first capture time;

instructions that cause the data processor to display a second plurality of preview images in a third display area, wherein the second plurality of preview images are associated with times subsequent to the first capture time; and

instructions that cause the data processor to save at least one of the first image, one of the first plurality of preview images, or one of the second plurality of preview images to a memory.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 wherein a size of the image associated with the capture time is larger than the second image and the third image.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 wherein the instructions that cause the data processor to display the first plurality of preview images comprise:

instructions that cause the data processor to display one of the first plurality of preview images, and

instructions that cause the data processor to thereafter display another of the first plurality of preview images, wherein a capture time associated with the another of the first plurality of preview images is prior to a capture time associated with the one of the first plurality of preview images.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 24 wherein the video footage is characterized by a frame rate and the one of the first plurality of preview images is associated with a second capture time equal to the first capture time minus an inverse of the frame rate.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 wherein the instructions that cause the data processor to display the second plurality of preview images comprise:

instructions that cause the data processor to display one of the second plurality of preview images, and

instructions that cause the data processor to thereafter display another of the second plurality of preview images, wherein a capture time associated with the another of the second plurality of preview images is subsequent to a capture time associated with the one of the first plurality of preview images.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 26 wherein the video footage is characterized by a frame rate and the one of the second plurality of preview images is associated with a third capture time equal to the first capture time plus an inverse of the frame rate.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 further comprising instructions that cause the data processor to display at least one of the first image, one of the first plurality of preview images, or one of the second plurality of preview images in a fourth display area.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 wherein snapshots captured in a previous video editing session are displayed in the fourth display area.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 further comprising instructions that cause the data processor to display the at least one of the first image, one of the first plurality of preview images, or one of the second plurality of preview images in the first display area.

31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 30 further comprising:

instructions that cause the data processor to update the second display area after displaying the selected image in the first display area; and

instructions that cause the data processor to update the third display area after displaying the selected image in the first display area.

32. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein:

the instructions that cause the data processor to update the second display area comprise instructions that cause the data processor to display a third plurality of preview images associated with capture times prior to a capture time associated with the selected image; and

the instructions that cause the data processor to update the third display area comprise instructions that cause the data processor to display a fourth plurality of preview images associated with capture times subsequent to the capture time associated with the selected image.

33. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 further comprising:

instructions that cause the data processor to modify a frame associated with an image over which a cursor is positioned; and

instructions that cause the data processor to display the image over which the cursor is positioned in the first display area.

34. A method of reviewing a snapshot image included in video footage, the method comprising:

displaying a main image in a first display area;

displaying a first plurality of preview images in a second display area, wherein the first plurality of preview images are extracted from a portion of the video footage prior to the main image;

displaying a second plurality of preview images in a third display area, wherein the second plurality of preview images are extracted from a portion of the video footage subsequent to the main image;

displaying the snapshot image in a fourth display area;

selecting the snapshot image using a user input device;

displaying the snapshot image in the first display area in place of the main image;

displaying a third plurality of preview images in the second display area, wherein the third plurality of preview images are extracted from a portion of the video footage prior to the snapshot image; and

displaying a fourth plurality of preview images in the third display area, wherein the fourth plurality of preview images are extracted from a portion of the video footage subsequent to the snapshot image.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein:

the first display area has a first side and a second side opposing the first side;

the second display area is disposed on the first side of the first display area; and

the third display area is disposed on the second side of the first display area.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising displaying additional snapshot images in the fourth display area, wherein the snapshot image and the additional images are stacked chronologically.

37. The method of claim 34 further comprising, prior to selecting the snapshot image using the user input device:

placing a cursor over the snapshot image; and

displaying the snapshot image in the first display area in place of the main image.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

moving the cursor to a position not over the snapshot image; and

displaying the main image in the first display area in place of the snapshot image.